Make the most of your internship

No matter what perception you have of internships, in today’s job market it could be your ticket to a future job offer. Internships play a significant role in your career development because of the exposure to new people in the workplace in addition to helping you cultivate experience.

Lauren Berger, author of “All Work, No Pay” talks about the significance of internships and how they have impacted the careers of people such as Oprah Winfrey and Brian Williams. Both started as interns gathering valuable work experience while learning how to interact and network with others.

Internships provide you with the hands-on work experience you need when entering the job market, and you can make the most of it by planning ahead. When you start an internship it’s easy to lose the energy it took to secure the position. In order to seize the opportunity, Berger recommends conducting a self-check every day in which you ask yourself “Am I making the most out of this situation?”

In addition, you want to constantly evaluate your performance by contemplating questions such as, “Am I doing the very best I can? What else can I do?” Your answers will keep you focused and help you stand out from the intern crowd by making a positive impression with the hiring decision-makers. As you move forward in gaining experience, never forget the power of references as well.

Here are some tips to help make your internship successful:

Be the first to volunteer. While volunteering may sound like all you have done most of your life, in this case volunteering is a good strategy for even the most menial tasks. Your willingness to volunteer demonstrates you are not afraid to take the initiative.

Stay alert. Berger makes a point in reminding interns to stay alert when employers need them rather than dodging a manager you are assigned to help.

Take your assignments seriously. Develop good listening skills by taking notes and asking clarifying questions. The questions and care you demonstrate to the employers shows you are interested in their success.

Develop trust. As an intern you will often be privy to confidential material, company plans or meetings. Remember that what you hear at work stays at work and you never know who might be listening. Being trustworthy is a sought-after trait.

An internship is your time to learn and gather the knowledge of skills needed to be successful in your career field. Make the most of it by giving an employer a reason to hire you in the future.

What did learn from your internship? What made your internship successful?